Tag: satc

The Rivington T-shirt

This post is going to have a lot of photos show I can show you some of the many ways I made this top. The Rivington T-shirt is one of the latest pattens from Sewing and the City patterns. As soon as I saw it, I wanted it! I am a sucker for a great T-shirt and have taken to making my own.

If you aren’t familiar, this is a PDF pattern that is both V-neck and crew neck (I do love having both in one pattern).

Pattern envelope views


The first one I made was this golden yellow V-neck. I used an interlock knit I had in my stash for this one.

The Rivington V-neck T-shirt front

This one I consider a wearable muslin. I made changes to the pattern to get the perfect fit for me. I added a full bust adjustment. That really gives me the room I need.

The Rivington T-shirt V-neck front

This greenish gray T is one of my favorites. The V is made correctly, the FBA works, and the fabric is another stash fabric that’s a lightweight knit. I also raised the neckline on this shirt which makes me much more comfortable wearing it.

T-shirt V-neck back

*Note: if you make a V-neck top, take your time with the V. It can really make a difference (in a good way).

I also made the crewneck version of The Rivington T-shirt. I did an FBA on this one, of course, since it’s the same size as the other version. But the this one is pretty much the “perfect” crew neck top.

The Rivington T-shirt crew neck

I bought this fabric locally on sale. It’s a lightweight knit. And I just loved the daisy print!

T-shirt crew neck back

I definitely need to make more of these in solid colors.

The Pattern Hack

The Rivington T-shirt crew neck hacked front with lace

This one is a “hack” of the pattern that I did on the crew neck version. Both of these fabrics I had in my stash. In fact, I’ve had this stretch lace for years! But it matched perfectly with the green interlock knit I had. Instead of using the neckband, I measured around the neckline to determine how long I needed to make this collar. I think the width is about 6 inches (approximately 3″ folded in half). Then I just attached it to the neckline. I wanted the sleeves to have the lace as well.

This one was just a fun project to do.

T-shirt crew neck hacked version back

Conclusion

These shirts can be put together is a couple of hours. While I did use my serger for these, I have made plenty of knit tops without using one. So, don’t let NOT having a serger stop you! I urge you to give this a try. If you want to learn how to sew with knit fabrics but have some apprehension about it, a T-shirt is something I think is a great first project.

The Bleeker Sweatshirt

I got this PDF pattern from Sewing and the City. The Bleeker sweatshirt is loose and oversized with dropped shoulders and ruffle details. It is easy to sew (it took me maybe two hours total to get this done). This is a pattern that I saw and knew I liked right away. The simplicity of the style with a bit of a design detail, the ruffle, really makes this more than the average sweatshirt.

woman wearing Bleeker sewatshirt front view

The Fabric

My fabric is from Mood Fabrics and it’s a lace print sweatshirt fleece that is very soft. Although I used the same fabric for the ruffle, it is suggested to use a lighter weight fabric with sweatshirt fleece. I wanted to make the ruffle more discreet as well as use material I had on hand. It turned out fine.

woman wearing Bleeker sweatshirt back view

Because The Bleeker sweatshirt is so oversized, I actually used the finished garment size to determine which size I would make. I sized down two sizes and got a perfect fit! It’s still oversized and comfy.

Bleeker sweatshirt front view

Some easy changes for the Bleeker sweatshirt

  • The ruffle can be made from contrasting or coordinating fabric (cotton, chiffon, etc).
  • The sleeves can be color blocked (I think about color-blocking more now that I made this jacket).
  • The ruffle can be made in one layer and the edges could be serged to make a scalloped edge.
  • And lastly, rib knit can be added to the sleeves and/or bottom of the shirt for a different look.

Whatever the case, I definitely recommend the pattern. It’s stylish and easy to make. I’ll make another one but I’ll probably use one of the variations I stated above. The Bleeker is an easy make for beginners.

Bleeker sweatshirt front view in gray and white

This fabric is super soft. Various knits can be used to make the sweatshirt too. Click here to check the pattern out for yourselves!